Seller of Hope

When I first began working at the bookstore last October, one of the other associates told all the new hires that we sell hope in our store. I never fully understood what that meant until today at work. I never want to forget what happened on the afternoon of August 5, 2011.

I had been standing at one of the registers pricing our new arrival items and figuring out what section they go into. When an older gentlemen came up to me and told me he didn't know the name of a book, but it had to do with the atonement. I led him to the first book that popped into my mind, why that book, I may never fully know why. I've learned to go with the first book that pops into mind when people tell me what they're looking for.

This man barely couldn't afford the book, which started him telling me a little about his life and his frustration in Satan taking control of so many of our current day leaders. Come to find out, this man had been a Navy SEAL at the time President Kennedy had been assassinated. This man has seen more evil, pain, devastation, death, and murders than any of us could ever begin to imagine. He has fought not only for our freedoms, but so others could have a chance at freedom. And he was in desperate need for the atonement.

Who was I to deny him that book? We don't do an official military discount but I gave him one anyways which made it so he could afford the book. He bought the book and left, only to come back a few minutes later. He asked me if I could sign and date his new book and maybe put a small message in it. He said I had given him the most kindness in 40 years, and he never wanted to forget it. I signed my name, put the date and wrote two words: Stay Strong.

I gave that man the hope he so desperately needed. And I was only being me, listening to the spirit and then being guided by the spirit. The Lord uses us as answers to prayers, and I am so grateful, humbled, and amazed that He considered me worthy enough to use me as an answer to someone's prayers.

When I began working in the bookstore I never ever would have thought the smallest amount of kindness I gave a customer could make a big difference in their life. But I have been proven wrong, and I will never forget that. I didn't just sell a book about the atonement, I sold that man Hope.